The 7th autumn fair took place last weekend in and around Garching town hall. Traditionally, the FRM II operates a stand in the entrance area and there was plenty of time to speak with individual interested citizens of Garching.

Many inquired about the current status of fuel element transports and the application for the water right permit. Research and medical applications, such as tumour treatment with radioisotopes, also interested most of the visitors. Garching's mayor Dietmar Gruchmann (SPD) also visited the FRM II stand.

This year, the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Centre and the Research Neutron Source offered children the opportunity to assemble their favorite chemical element using magnetic building blocks to create an electron shell and a nucleus containing protons and neutrons. Both adults and children were interested in determining the radioactivity of banana chips, Brazil nuts, artificial fertilizers and granite stones with measuring instruments. There was a quiz for our diligent visitors who had read through the posters on research topics. The little ones enjoyed balloons filled with helium. Brochures, information material and films rounded off the offer and for those interested in visiting the neutron source itself, flyers were available for the FRM II Open Day on 3 October.